What is the UK time zone?

We often hear about time zones in different parts of the world and jet lag - but what does it all mean?

A time zone is a region of the world following a standard time – and it has multiple social and business implications.

Around the world countries belong to one specific time zone like the UK’s current BST but larger countries like Russia or the United States are divided in about three time zones or more.

When was time first established?

Long before clocks there was an instrument called sundial creating a shadow after the sunlight to indicate the hour of the day. This instrument was used for first time before common era.

Time in the UK

With the construction the Royal Observatory in Greenwich in 1675 London, GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) has been adopted. It was designed initially as a mariner aid, permitting those at sea to determine longitude.

Why is GMT important?

The moment the sun is at its highest point above the Prime Meridian it is 12 Noon at Greenwich. So, GMT is also used as the standard time for other time zones around the world.

What is British Summer Time?

BST or Daylight Saving Time was written into law by the Summer Time Act, 1916. Clocks must be moved forward an hour in spring, and then moved back again in autumn, making it possible to get more daylight during waking hours.

UTC and GMT

Coordinated Universal Time (or UTC) should not be confused with GMT which is a time zone and UTC is the international standard time used by all countries and by which clocks around the world are set every day.

Are there many Time Zones in the UK?

No, there is just one standard time zone in the UK, we hear a lot about two time zones – British Summertime and Greenwich Mean Time, and because the entire United Kingdom implements both changes, there will be one standard only.

How do I work out other Time Zones?

Time Zones of the world put together represent 24 hours. There are exactly twenty-four 15-degree longitudinal sections all servings as time zones. Does is it sound complicated? No worries wherever you are in the world use Blinds UK’s time zone converter.